Norwegian scabies.

Norwegian scabies

 Also known as crusted scabies, is a serious form of scabies infection first discovered in Norway in the mid-nineteenth century. This form of scabies usually afflicts people with impaired immunity, including individuals with AIDS, lymphoma and mental or physical impairments. Norwegian scabies is also common among the elderly since this group generally has a weaker immune system. In Norwegian scabies, people are infected with hundreds of scabies mites, compared with a normal infection, where only about 15 scabies mites are present on the human body. The large number of scabies mites is due to a compromised immune system which allows the scabies to multiply drastically. The overwhelming number of scabies mites on the body means that risk of infection is not limited to family members as in normal scabies, but also extends to health workers and other people who have any form of body contact with the patient.

In Norwegian scabies, the primary sites of infection are usually the soles of the feet, knees, elbows, palms and scalp; hands may swell and nails may become discolored. The damage is extensive and may resemble blistering that spreads rapidly. Norwegian scabies poses a major risk of additional infections, including with Streptococcal bacteria, since the damaged areas of the body are more susceptible to bacterial infection. Intense itching, which is the most common symptom of scabies, does not occur to the same extent in Norwegian scabies, or may not occur at all in some individuals.